Printing and folding machine



N0. BI4,980. Patented NOV. 29, I898. J. A. PYRDN.

PRINTING AND FULDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 6l4,980.

Patented Nov. 29, I898. J. A. PYRON. PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 1'7, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,980, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed March 17, 1897- Serial No. 628,004. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. PYRON, of Chester, in the county of Randolph and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Printing Upon and Folding Labels and Similar Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine particularly adapted for printing or stamping and folding labels used in connection with mail pouches or sacks, but which may also be employed for printing or stamping upon and folding circulars and the like.

A further object ofthe invention is to so construct the machine that the stamped and folded labels will be automatically placed in a given receptacle in such a manner as to be readily picked out therefrom by the operator when arranging the labels into runs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above-named character which will be portable, simple, durable, and economic and capable of being quickly and readily operated.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, illustrating the inking-pad as in engagement with the printing plate or bed, all of the parts being in their initial position. Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, illustrating the label placed in position over the printing plate or bed and the ink-pad as raised. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the label being shown as having been given its first fold. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the label as having received its second fold and showing a second label as placed in position to receive an impression. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the first label placed on the machine as having been completely folded and delivered to a tray and the second label as having received its first fold. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the upper folding-blade and a partial side elevation of the member of the follower to which it is hinged, illustrating on a large scale the means for regulating the movement of the blade.

The frame of the machine consists in a bottom 10 and side pieces 11, which are made.

narrow at their upper ends; but the front edges of the side pieces are preferably made straight, or nearly so. Where the narrow portions of the side pieces connect with the wider portions a horizontal platform 12 is secured, forming a portion of the frame, and on the upper face of the platform at the rear left-hand corner a stop-plate 13 is secured, preferably angular or L.-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2. In the inner face of each side piece two vertical grooves or channels 14 and 14 are made, extending from top to bottom, one of the grooves being at or near the center of the contracted portion of the side pieces and the other near the rear edge of the contracted portion, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. A third groove or channel 15 is made in the inner face of the contracted portion of the side pieces 11, extending from the top downward a predetermined distance and meeting a slot 16, which is virtually a continuation of the groove 15, the slot extending down to the platform 12. Two transverse openings 17 and 18 are made in the platform 12, the opening 17 being opposite the grooves or channels 14 and the opening 18 opposite the parallel grooves or channels 14, as shown in the sectional views.

A vertical partition 19 is secured to the platform at one side of the opening 17, while at the opposite side of said opening a second parti tion 19 is formed, both partitions being of the same length; but the partition 19 at its lower end is connected with a horizontal partition 20, which extends forwardly to a point near the rear edges of the grooves or channels 14,

since the partitions 19, 19, and 20 extend from one side piece to the other. Below the IOO partition 19, and the lower vertical partition 2 is connected at its upper edge with a horizontal partition of similar dimensions to and located immediately below the upper horizontal partition 20, connected with the vertical partition 19. Two other vertical partitions 24 and 25 are employed, extending from side piece to side piece of the frame, one of which is located at the forward edge of the channels 14 and the other at the rear edge of said channels. The forward'vertical partition 25 is provided at its top with a forwardlyextending horizontal extension 26, which is below a partition 27 of like dimensions, the partition 27 being in horizontal alinement with the corresponding partition 20. Under this construction it will be observed that the rearmost vertical partitions 19, 19, 21, and 22, together with the opening 17 in the platform 12, constitute a pocket 23, which extends from side to side of the machine in a vertical direction. The horizontal partitions 20, 23, 2G, and 27, together with the space between the upper and lower rearmost partitions, form a horizontal pocket 29, extending from side to side of the machine across the vertical pocket 28, and a second vertical pocket 30 is formed by the forward partitions 24 and 25, together with the space between the upper horizontal partitions 20 and 27, the forward vertical pocket 30 crossing the horizontal pocket 29, as is shown in all of the sec tional views.

The printing plate or bed 31 is secured upon the platform 12 between the openings 17 and 18, and above the platform 12 a follower 32 is mounted to slide to and from the printingplate, the follower, as shown in Fig. 2, having legs on its ends arranged to travel in the grooves or channels 14 and 14 in the sides of the frame. The follower is preferably provided with a handle 33, and upon the under face of the follower the inking-pad 34 is secured. An arm 35 is carried downward from each end of the follower at the front, and these arms are so shaped that they will slide in the side grooves or channels 14 of the frame, passing through the platform 12. The forward arms 35 of the follower are of such length that their lower ends will be near the bottom of the frame when the inking-pad is resting on the printing-plate, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. A folding blade or bar 36 extends from the bottom portion of one arm 35 to the other, the blade being preferably rectangular in cross-section, as illustrated. The blade 39 constitutes the impression member of the printing-couple, of which the printing-plate 31 is the other member.

At each end of the rear side of the follower a shorter arm 37 is secured. The folding impression-blade 39 is pivotally attached to the arms 37 of the follower, and when the follower is in its upper position (shown in Fig. 4) the folding impression-blade 39 will be in a horizontal position. The folding impression-blade 39 is provided with a rear extension 40, the greater width of the impression-blade being in direction of the front. The extension 40 is a continuation of the blade 39, projecting beyond the hinge of the blade. The hinge admits of the impressionblade folding upward and dropping downward, but the blade cannot drop lower than to a horizontal position by reason of the extension 40 striking against a pin 4O upon the follower-arm 37. (See Fig. 8.)

A spring 41 is located just back of the groove or channel 14, resting upon the platform 12, and when the plunger is carried downward the impression is made through the medium of the folding impression-blade 39, which will be held a sufficient length of time firmly in position on the article upon which the impression is to be made by reason of the extension 40 of the blade being engaged from beneath by the spring 41, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4. hen the follower is forced farther downward, the folding impression-blade will be drawn upward, practically parallel with the arm 37 of the plunger, by reason of the extension 40 from said blade having been forced past the spring 41. The blade cannot ascend to a true vertical position, as it is stopped by a pin 40 upon one or both of the follower-arms 37, the pins 40" being above the pins 40, as shown in Fig. 8. The blade 39 in its upper position will be taken downward into the pocket 28, carrying the printed or stamped sheet 42 with it, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby making the first fold. The fixed folding blade or bar 36 is adapted to travel upward through the pocket 30 to a point above the pocket, as illustrated in Fig. 4. It may be here stated that when the folding impression-blade 39 is carried at the upstroke of the plunger above the pocket 28 the moment the blade is free it willgravitate to its normal horizontal position.

A shifting frame A is mounted to slide in the front grooves or channels 15 in the upper portion of the sides of the main frame. This shifting frame usually comprises side bars 43, a top bar 43, and a bottom bar 44, the latter extending out through the slots 16, connecting with the aforesaid grooves 15. At the outer ends of the bottom bar 44 of the shifting frame tapes or cords 45 are secured. These tapes are led downward and are carried over a roller 46, journaled in the front portion of the main frame below the platform 12 and occupying a position almost in front of the horizontal pocket 29, formed by the partitions heretofore described.

A horizontal folding bar or blade 47 is secured to the tapes or cords 45, held to slide in suitable grooves made horizontally in the main frame and being adapted particularly to pass through the horizontal pocket 29 from end to end. The rear extremities of the tapes or cords 45 are secured to the end portions of a spring-roller 48, suitably mounted in the rear portion of the main frame.

A tray 49 is held to travel on the bottom of the main frame. This tray is provided with side pieces, which are formed with teeth 50, and at one side of the tray 49 a rack 51 is secured. The spaces between the teeth of the rack are adapted to receive a dog 52, the dog being pivoted to one end of a lever 53, suitablyfulcrumed above the bottom of the main frame. The opposite end of the lever 53 engages with a spring 54, which exerts upward tension thereon, the spring being attached to a block 55 or to any rigid support on the main frame.

In operation the plunger 32 is first carried downward to bring the inking-pad in engagement with the printing plate or surface 31. The plunger is then carried upward, occupying the position shown in Fig. 4. The label or sheet to be printed is then introduced from the front of the machine on the top of the platform 12 to an engagement with the inner angular walls of the stop 13. The plunger is now carried downward, whereupon the vertically-moving folding impression-blade 39, which will at that time be above the labelor sheet, is carried downward and, as heretofore stated, will press the sheet on the printing or type surface 31, imparting to said sheet the necessaryimpression, the spring 41 holding the upper folding bar or blade, which at this time is in a horizontal position, against moving to an inclined or vertical position, insuring the impression. On the further downward movement of the plunger the projection 40 from the foldingimpression-blade 39,which is in engagement with the spring 41, will be released from such engagement and conducted into the opening 17 in the platform 12, whereupon the said folding impressionblade 39 will assume a vertical position and will carry downward with it through said opening 17 the printed or stamped label and will conduct said label to the bottom portion of the pocket 28, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby folding the label once upon itself. Ordinarily one-third of the folded label will be above the horizontal pocket 29. Before the label and the rear vertically-moving folding impresssion-blade have assumed the position above set forth and before these parts have approached the horizontal pocket 29 an arm 56, projected from the plunger, will have left the upper bar 43 of the shifting frame 43, permitting the spring-roller 48 to draw the horizontal folder 47 toward the entrance or forward end of the horizontal channel 29, thus taking the horizontal folder out of the path of the folding-blade 36, which will be free to move downward to give the final fold to the label. The printing-plate will again receive a supply of ink by contact with the inking-pad when the plunger is in its lower position,which it is at this time, and the forward vertically-moving folder will be at the bottom portion of the frame. When the plunger is carried upward, the rear folder will be drawn out of the folded label, and about the time that the said rear folder has passed the horizontal pocket 29 the projection 56 from the plunger will have engaged with the top bar of the shifting frame and will commence to raise said frame. As the frame is raised the horizontal folder 47 is drawn through the horizontal pocket, giving the label having its first fold a second or transverse fold, carrying the label thus folded through the horizontal pocket over the forward vertical pocket 30. When the plunger has been carried upward to its full extent, the forward verti- (ally-moving folder 36 will be above the horizontal pocket 29, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, in which latter figure the doubly-folded label is shown in position to receive its final fold, and the rear folder will have been passed beyond the top of the platform 12 and will have resumedits horizontal position ready to make a second impression. Before the plunger is carried downward again a second label is placed in position on the platform. Therefore when the plunger is carried downward the second label will have received its impression and will have been given its first fold, while the doubly-folded label will have received its final fold by reason of the forward folder 36 passing downward and carrying with it the label, and the said forward folder will deliver the completely-folded label in the space between predetermined teeth 50 on the tray. As the completely-folded label leaves the pocket 30 the lower contracted end of the pocket so creases the label that it will not unfold, and when the forward verticallymoving folder deposits the folded label in the spaces on the tray it depresses the lever 53, placing the spring 54 under tension, and raises the dog 52 from out of engagement with the teeth on the rack 51. When the plunger is again carried upward, the spring 54 resumes its normal position, carrying the lever 53 to a horizontal position, thereby forcing the dog 52 rearward, which will have engaged with the rack, and consequently the tray will be moved rearward the distance of one tooth, presenting another space to the bottom of the pocket 30 to receive the completely-folded second label placed on the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A printing plate or bed, a folder having movement to and from the printing-plate, said folder constituting the second member of the printing-couple, the said folder being also arranged to assume a horizontal or a vertical position, a second folder arranged to cross the path of the first-named folder, and means for moving the folders, as specified.

2. In a machine for printing upon and folding labels and similar articles, a printing plate or bed, a follower having an inkingsurface, said follower being movable to and from the printing-plate, and an impressionblade having a hinged connect-ion with extensions from the follower, the impression-blade being so hinged as to fold upward to a vertical position but not downward beyond a horizontal position, and means, substantially as described, for arresting the impression-blade and holding it in a horizontal position over the printing-plate.

3. In a machine for printing upon and folding labels and similar articles, the combination, with a printing-surface and a pocket located below the printing-surface, of a follower having a sliding movment to and from the printing-surface, said follower being provided with an inking-surface and with downward extensions, an impression-blade having a hinged connection with an extension of said follower, a projection from the said blade, extending beyond the rear of the hinge and over the aforesaid pocket, and a spring-stop located over the pocket near the said printingsurface, being arranged for engagement with the projection from the saidimpression-blade, whereby said blade will be held temporarily and firmly upon the printing-surface, and when forced beyond the stop will fold upward and enter the aforesaid pocket.

4. In a machine for printing upon and folding labels and similar articles, the combination of a printing-surface, an impressionblade, and a support to which the said blade is hinged, the impression-blade being normally in a horizontal position but capable of being carried to a vertical position, the said impression-blade serving in the dual function of a second member for the printing-couple and likewise as a folder.

5. A printing surface, parallel pockets open at their ends located below the printingsurface, a third pocket crossing the parallel pockets, also open at its ends, folders arranged to travel in the parallel pockets, a follower having movement to and from the printing-surface, and a third folder arranged to travel through a crossing pocket, the movement of the folders being controlled by the movement of the said follower, for the purpose specified.

6. A printing plate or bed, a combined impression-blade and folder constituting a second member of a printing-couple, the said combined folder being arranged for movement to and from the printing-plate, a second folder mounted to cross the path of the combined impression-blade and folder, and a tray having openings to receive a folded label, the tray being moved by the descent of the combined impression-blade and folder, as specified.

7. In a machine for stamping and folding labels and the like, a printing-plate, a follower provided with an inking-pad, having movement to and from the impression-surface of the printing-plate, vertical and transverse pockets located beneath the printingplate, folding blades or bars carried by the follower, adapted to travel through the vertical pockets, a horizontal tension-controlled folding blade or bar arranged to pass through the transverse pocket, a frame raised by the movement of the follower, and a connection between the said frame and the tension-controlled folder, whereby the frame is lowered, as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a machine for printing and folding labels and the like, a printing-surface, a follower provided with an inking-pad having movement to and from the printing-surface, vertical and transverse pockets being located beneath the printing-surface, folding blades or bars carried by the follower, adapted to travel through the vertical pockets, a horizontal folding blade or bar arranged to pass through the transverse pocket, a take-up device connected with the horizontal foldingblade, and a connection between the follower and horizontal folder, whereby the horizontal folder is operated in one direction by the take-up and in another direction by the follower, for the purpose specified.

9. In a machine for printing and folding labels and the like, a printing-surface, a follower provided with an inking-pad, having movement to and from the printing-surface, vertical and transverse pockets being located beneath the printing-surface, folding blades or bars carried by the follower, adapted to travel through the vertical pockets, a horizontal folding blade or bar arranged to pass through the transverse pocket, a take-up device connected with the horizontal foldingblade, and a connection between the follower and horizontal folder, whereby the horizontal folder is operated in one direction by the take-up and in another direction by the follower, a tray, and a spring-controlled leveroperated dog adapted to move said tray, being operated by one of the vertical folders.

10. In a machine for stamping and folding labels and the like, a stationary printing-surface, a follower having an inking-surface and arranged for movement to and from the printing-surface, vertical and transverse pockets located beneath the printing-surface, folders carried by the follower, adapted to travel through the vertical pockets, one folder being below the other, the uppermost folder being hinged and the lowermost one being fixed, a frame operated from the follower, a spring roller, and a transversely moving folder connected with the frame and with the said roller, the transverse folder being adapted to travel through the transverse pocket, as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a machine for stamping and folding labels and the like, a stationary printing-surface, a follower having an inking-surface and arranged for movement to and from the printing-surface, vertical and transverse pockets located beneath said printing-surface, folders carried by the follower and adapted to travel through the vertical pockets, one folder being below the other, the uppermost folder being hinged and the lowermost one fixed, a frame operated from the follower, a springroller, a transversely-moving folder connected with the frame and with the roller, being adapted to travel through the transverse pocket, a tray located beneath the pocket, capable of end movement and provided with openings to receive folded material, a rack attached to said tray, a dog engaging with the rack, and a spring-controlled lever carrying the dog, the lever being operated by the lowermost folder, as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a machine for printing and folding labels and the like, the combination, with a frame having a platform, openings in the platform and partitions located below the platform, arranged to form vertical and transverse pockets, the vertical pockets alining the openings in the plat-form crossing the transverse pocket, a printing-surface formed on the platform between the openings therein, and a follower having an inking-surface, held to move to and from the said printing-sun face, of folders carried by the follower, one being located below the other, the uppermost folder being pivoted and adapted to serve also as an impression-blade, a spring-stop located in the path of the pivoted folder above the platform, the folders carried by the follower being adapted to travel in the vertical pockets, a spring-controlled roller, a frame held to slide in the main frame, an extension from the follower adapted to move between transverse bars on the sliding frame, a horizontal folder adapted to travel in the transverse pocket, and a connection between the sliding frame, the horizontal folder and the 5 spring-controlled roller.

13. In a machine for printing and folding labels and the like, the combination, with a frame having a platform, openings in the platform, and partitions located below the said platform, arranged to form vertical and transverse pockets, the vertical pockets alining the openings in the platform, crossing the transverse pocket, a printing-surface formed on the platform between the openings therein, and a follower having an inking-surface held to move to and from the said printingsurface, of folders carried by the follower, one being located below the other, the uppermost folder being pivoted, a spring-stop located in the path of the pivoted folder above the platform, the folders carried by the follower, being adapted to travel in the vertical pockets, a spring-controlled roller, a frame held to slide in the main frame, an extension from the follower adapted to move between transverse bars on the sliding frame, a horizontal folder adapted to travel in the transverse pocket, a connection between the sliding frame, the horizontal folder and the spring-controlled roller, a tray mounted to slide in the bottom of the main frame, having openings to receive a folded label, arack located at one side edge of the tray, a dog engaging with the said rack, a lever pivotally connected with the dog, and a spring exerting upward tension on the lever, the springcontrolled end of the lever being depressed by the lowermost vertically-moving folder.

JOHN A. PYRON. Witnesses:

LOUIS IIEITMAN, THOS. J. IIowoRrH. 

